--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In my view, Africa's real problems are…" description: "\"In my view, Africa's real problems are cultural.\" — Hugh Masekela" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24e/hugh-masekela-13534_africa_in-my-view-africa-s-real-problems-are-cu_2074454.png" --- # In my view, Africa's real problems are cultural. ![“In my view, Africa's real problems are cultural.” quote by Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24e/hugh-masekela-13534_africa_in-my-view-africa-s-real-problems-are-cu_2074454.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24e/hugh-masekela-13534_africa_in-my-view-africa-s-real-problems-are-cu_2074454.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24e/hugh-masekela-13534_africa_in-my-view-africa-s-real-problems-are-cu_2074454.png) > “In my view, Africa's real problems are cultural.” [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cultural factors are presented as the main source of Africa's challenges, overlooking structural and historical issues. **In simple terms:** Culture is blamed for Africa's problems. Key Takeaway Examine both cultural and systemic causes. Themes culture development stereotypes Mood critical analytical Type political social critique When to use this quote - policy making - education reform - media narratives Key Concepts colonial legacy economic disparity identity politics Questions to Reflect On - How do historical factors intersect with culture? - What evidence supports cultural vs structural causes? A Different Perspective Cultural explanations can oversimplify complex realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems/) [Real problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-problems/) ## Related quotes > [The real problems are cultural. The problems of the people who take drugs as a cultural trap - I think there's a real problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/the-real-problems-are-cultural-the-problems-of-the-people-who-take/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [“The weekly show View on Africa was what first gave her the insight that there was a world outside Soweto. It wasn’t necessarily more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-jonasson/the-weekly-show-view-on-africa-was-what-first-gave-her-the-insight/) [Jonas Jonasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-jonasson/) > [One of the saddest aspects for me about filming in South Africa was that the real inequalities are still very much in place -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomie-harris/one-of-the-saddest-aspects-for-me-about-filming-in-south-africa-was/) [Naomie Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomie-harris/) > [People in the United States still have a 'Tarzan' movie view of Africa. That's because in the movies all you see are jungles and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-makeba/people-in-the-united-states-still-have-a-tarzan-movie-view-of-africa/) [Miriam Makeba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-makeba/) > [Africa has been troubled for a long time - well, the world has been troubled ever since I was born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/africa-has-been-troubled-for-a-long-time-well-the-world-has-been/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I've got to where am in life not because of something I brought to the world but through something I found - the wealth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-ve-got-to-where-am-in-life-not-because-of-something-i-brought-to/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [The real problem with the IRS is that they let General Electric not pay any taxes -- and 50 other corporations -- that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/the-real-problem-with-the-irs-is-that-they-let-general-electric-not/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [The real problem with Donald Trump is, if you engage him, it will only make things worse. It's like - it's a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-walter/the-real-problem-with-donald-trump-is-if-you-engage-him-it-will-only/) [Amy Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-walter/) > [For many years the stakes were clear. There were the Arabs attacking us and us defending ourselves, so basically there were no real problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/for-many-years-the-stakes-were-clear-there-were-the-arabs-attacking/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [I think we are all interested in end-times ideas and also in the current climate that we are all living in, where money is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-monaghan/i-think-we-are-all-interested-in-end-times-ideas-and-also-in-the/) [Dominic Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-monaghan/) > [There is a real problem with the lack of diversity, specifically in genre films and the superheroes our kids grow up watching and emulating,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djimon-hounsou/there-is-a-real-problem-with-the-lack-of-diversity-specifically-in/) [Djimon Hounsou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/djimon-hounsou/) > [Solve a real problem. You don't start a company because you want to be an entrepreneur or the fame and glory that comes along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-patzer/solve-a-real-problem-you-don-t-start-a-company-because-you-want-to-be/) [Aaron Patzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-patzer/) > [Italy has sun and tomatoes, and Russia just has real problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/italy-has-sun-and-tomatoes-and-russia-just-has-real-problems/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) ## More by Hugh Masekela > [In some townships, political parties are run by thugs financed from Cape Town. If we don't have support of the police, we can not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/in-some-townships-political-parties-are-run-by-thugs-financed-from/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I've got to where am in life not because of something I brought to the world but through something I found - the wealth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-ve-got-to-where-am-in-life-not-because-of-something-i-brought-to/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [It's obvious that the rest of the world loves high African culture - African culture, period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/it-s-obvious-that-the-rest-of-the-world-loves-high-african-culture/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I got possessed by music as an infant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-got-possessed-by-music-as-an-infant/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I couldn't get away from the gramophone. It was the only thing that I ever really liked, and I was singing along by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-couldn-t-get-away-from-the-gramophone-it-was-the-only-thing-that-i/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I live a very enjoyable life. I understand what moderation is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-live-a-very-enjoyable-life-i-understand-what-moderation-is/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [Africa has been troubled for a long time - well, the world has been troubled ever since I was born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/africa-has-been-troubled-for-a-long-time-well-the-world-has-been/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I don't think any musician ever thinks about making a statement. I think everybody goes into music loving it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-don-t-think-any-musician-ever-thinks-about-making-a-statement-i/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [One of the greatest things that could really happen to Africa is for us to get rid of the borders and for the leadership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/one-of-the-greatest-things-that-could-really-happen-to-africa-is-for/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I started playing the piano when I was 6 years old 'cause my folks tried to get me away from the gramophone. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-started-playing-the-piano-when-i-was-6-years-old-cause-my-folks/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I just came from South Africa, a place that had been in a perpetual uprising since 1653, so the uprising had become a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-just-came-from-south-africa-a-place-that-had-been-in-a-perpetual/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I have a major respect for nature. I'm an environmentalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-have-a-major-respect-for-nature-i-m-an-environmentalist/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [Corruption is everywhere, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/corruption-is-everywhere-man/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [Mandela was chosen as a symbol of the South African struggle, and he did that great. But I wasn't just happy for him. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/mandela-was-chosen-as-a-symbol-of-the-south-african-struggle-and-he/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I am a forward-looking person and live in the moment to build for the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-am-a-forward-looking-person-and-live-in-the-moment-to-build-for-the/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) [Explore all 50 Hugh Masekela quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) ## More Africa quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) > [I'm in 'Madagascar 2.' I'm Testy the Lion. The franchise moves to Africa, and Bernie Mac is also in the film. I loved working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lister-jr/i-m-in-madagascar-2-i-m-testy-the-lion-the-franchise-moves-to-africa/) [Tom Lister, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lister-jr/) > [South Africa needs a second liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/south-africa-needs-a-second-liberation/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [If you followed the media you'd think that everybody in Africa was starving to death, and that's not the case; so it's important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/if-you-followed-the-media-you-d-think-that-everybody-in-africa-was/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [Africa for the Africans... at home and abroad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/africa-for-the-africans-at-home-and-abroad/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [In Africa, animals and the natural landscape allow local communities to support themselves, as there is a constant source of money from tourism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/in-africa-animals-and-the-natural-landscape-allow-local-communities/) [David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/) > [My mom is from Ghana, and my dad is from Detroit, so I would go back and forth to Africa a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-richardson/my-mom-is-from-ghana-and-my-dad-is-from-detroit-so-i-would-go-back/) [Sam Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-richardson/) > [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/) [Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/) > [I represent my country, but I also represent the continent of Africa when I play in Europe. That's why it's important to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaya-toure/i-represent-my-country-but-i-also-represent-the-continent-of-africa/) [Yaya Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaya-toure/) > [What we need in South Africa is for egos to be suppressed in favour of peace. We need to create a new breed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hani/what-we-need-in-south-africa-is-for-egos-to-be-suppressed-in-favour/) [Chris Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hani/) > [I was learning to track rhinoceroses in Africa and tracked right up on an animal that really I thought was going to kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/i-was-learning-to-track-rhinoceroses-in-africa-and-tracked-right-up/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [I am interested in bringing Africa to the foot of the Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-am-interested-in-bringing-africa-to-the-foot-of-the-cross/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [My mother is a huge fan of my work. I told her about 'Coraline' long before the film was made, and she got the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-selick/my-mother-is-a-huge-fan-of-my-work-i-told-her-about-coraline-long/) [Henry Selick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-selick/) [Browse all 1,665 Africa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In my view, Africa's real problems are cultural.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hugh Masekela" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/in-my-view-africa-s-real-problems-are-cultural/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Africa" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/in-my-view-africa-s-real-problems-are-cultural/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24e/hugh-masekela-13534_africa_in-my-view-africa-s-real-problems-are-cu_2074454.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24e/hugh-masekela-13534_africa_in-my-view-africa-s-real-problems-are-cu_2074454.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24e/hugh-masekela-13534_africa_in-my-view-africa-s-real-problems-are-cu_2074454.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In my view, Africa's real problems are cultural.” — Hugh Masekela", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Hugh Masekela", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In my view, Africa's real problems...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/in-my-view-africa-s-real-problems-are-cultural/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/in-my-view-africa-s-real-problems-are-cultural/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```